Former Wallaby Mark Nawaqanitawase is set to debut for the Roosters on the back of his strong form in NSW Cup.
The Storm could welcome back Xavier Coates for their clash with the Broncos, but bench prop Christian Welch is in doubt.
Coates is bidding to return from a hamstring injury in time for the finals with Grant Anderson the man likely to make way if he is cleared to play.
Meanwhile, the Tigers have been forced into a reshuffle with halfback Aidan Sezer ruled out with a shoulder injury forcing a reshuffle.
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Read on for the Early Mail for Round 27.
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THURSDAY
Brisbane Broncos vs Melbourne Storm 7.50pm AEST at Suncorp Stadium
Broncos team: 1. Tristan Sailor 2. Corey Oates 3. Selwyn Cobbo 4. Deine Mariner 5. Jesse Arthars 6. Joshua Rogers 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Corey Jensen 9. Billy Walters 10. Fletcher Baker 11. Jaiyden Hunt 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan 14. Blake Mozer 15. Kobe Hetherington 16. Benjamin Te Kura 17. Martin Taupau 18. Josiah Karapani 19. Cory Paix 20. Reece Walsh 21. Vaa Semu
Players cut:
Early Mail: Kobe Hetherington is set to return from concussion protocols on the bench.
Storm team: 1. Sualauvi Faalogo 2. William Warbrick 3. Jack Howarth 4. Nick Meaney 5. Grant Anderson 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 9. Harry Grant 10. Josh King 11. Shawn Blore 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Trent Loiero 14. Tyran Wishart 15. Christian Welch 16. Tui Kamikamica 17. Alec MacDonald 18. Kane Bradley 19. Joe Chan 20. Lazarus Vaalepu 21. Ativalu Lisati 22. Xavier Coates
Players cut:
Early Mail: Christian Welch is in doubt for the clash with the Broncos, according to NCA Newswire. Xavier Coates is a chance to return from a hamstring injury after being named in the reserves. Coates trained strongly on Wednesday, according to Newswire, with Grant Anderson the man likely to drop out if he is deemed fit.
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Gordie FIRES in defence of Kevvie | 02:49
FRIDAY
Wests Tigers vs Parramatta Eels vs 6pm AEST at Campbelltown Sports Stadium
Tigers team: 1. Heath Mason 2. Junior Tupou 3. Solomona Faataape 4. Josh Feledy 5. Charlie Staines 6. Lachlan Galvin 7. Aidan Sezer 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. David Klemmer 11. Alex Seyfarth 12. Samuela Fainu 13. Isaiah Papali’i 14. Latu Fainu 15. Sione Fainu 16. Fonua Pole 17. Alex Twal 18. Tim Johannssen 19. Alexander Lobb 20. Reuben Porter 21. Kit Laulilii 22. Tony Sukkar
Players cut:
Early Mail: Halfback Aidan Sezer was initially named to play despite suffering a shoulder injury against Manly ahead of the bye but has since been ruled out. Latu Fainu joins the starting side while Tony Sukkar makes his debut off the bench.
Eels team: 1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Maika Sivo 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Blaize Talagi 5. Sean Russell 6. Dylan Brown 7. Daejarn Asi 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Brendan Hands 10. Shaun Lane 11. Kelma Tuilagi 12. Bryce Cartwright 13. Joe Ofahengaue 14. Joey Lussick 15. Makahesi Makatoa 16. Luca Moretti 17. Ofahiki Ogden 18. Jake Tago 19. Matt Doorey 20. Ethan Sanders 21. Haze Dunster 22. Wiremu Greig
Players cut:
Early Mail: Sean Russell returns on the wing after missing last week’s game due to illness.
South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Sydney Roosters, 8pm AEST at Accor Stadium
Rabbitohs team: 1. Jye Gray 2. Tyrone Munro 3. Taane Milne 4. Richard Kennar 5. Jacob Gagai 6. Cody Walker 7. Dean Hawkins 8. Tallis Duncan 9. Damien Cook 10. Thomas Burgess 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Jacob Host 13. Davvy Moale 14. Peter Mamouzelos 15. Liam Le Blanc 16. Sean Keppie 17. Siliva Havili 18. Michael Chee Kam 19. Izaac Tu’itupou Thompson 20. Brock Gray 21. Fletcher Myers 22. Dion Teaupa
Players cut:
Early Mail: To come.
Roosters team: 1. James Tedesco 2. Fetalaiga Pauga 3. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii 4. Joseph Manu 5. Dominic Young 6. Luke Keary 7. Sandon Smith 8. Spencer Leniu 9. Connor Watson 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Angus Crichton 12. Sitili Tupouniua 13. Naufahu Whyte 14. Zach Dockar-Clay 15. Siua Wong 16. De La Salle Va’a 17. Terrell May 18. Michael Jennings 19. Blake Steep 20. Mark Nawaqanitawase 21. Jake Elliott 22. Xavier Va’a
Players cut:
Early Mail: Former Wallaby Mark Nawaqanitawase is set to debut for the Roosters on the back of his strong form in NSW Cup, according to The Daily Telegraph. The Roosters are yet to reveal who he will replace.
Crawley not keen on Mitchell’s ‘ban’ | 01:51
SATURDAY
St George Illawarra Dragons vs Canberra Raiders, 3pm AEST at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium
Dragons team: 1. Tyrell Sloan 2. Zac Lomax 3. Moses Suli 4. Jack Bird 5. Mathew Feagai 6. Lyhkan King-Togia 7. Ben Hunt 8. Francis Molo 9. Jacob Liddle 10. Jack de Belin 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Tom Eisenhuth 14. Connor Muhleisen 15. Toby Couchman 16. Blake Lawrie 17. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 18. Hamish Stewart 19. Michael Molo 20. Savelio Tamale 21. Max Feagai 22. Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga
Players cut:
Early Mail: Moses Suli is set to return from a knee injury in the centres.
Raiders team: 1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Albert Hopoate 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Tom Starling 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Simi Sasagi 13. Morgan Smithies 14. Danny Levi 15. Corey Horsburgh 16. Ata Mariota 17. Trey Mooney 18. James Schiller 19. Zac Woolford 20. Emre Guler 21. Jed Stuart 22. Adam Cook
Players cut:
Early Mail: Halfback Jamal Fogarty is set to return from a hamstring strain, while five-eighth Ethan Strange is due back from a calf complaint.
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs vs North Queensland Cowboys 5.30pm AEST at Accor Stadium
Bulldogs team: 1. Connor Tracey 2. Jeral Skelton 3. Jacob Kiraz 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Drew Hutchison 7. Toby Sexton 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Samuel Hughes 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jacob Preston 13. Jaeman Salmon 14. Bailey Hayward 15. Kurtis Morrin 16. Harry Hayes 17. Josh Curran 19. Blake Taaffe 20. Jack Underhill 21. Eli Clark 22. Lipoi Hopoi 23. Jonathan Sua
Players cut:
Early Mail: To come.
Cowboys team: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Viliami Vailea 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Jake Clifford 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Jason Taumalolo 11. Heilum Luki 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Reuben Cotter 14. Sam McIntyre 15. Thomas Mikaele 16. Harrison Edwards 17. Griffin Neame 18. Jaxon Purdue 19. Chad Townsend 20. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 21. Marly Bitungane 22. Tomas Chester
Players cut:
Early Mail: Thomas Mikaele is set to return from a hamstring injury on the bench.
Penrith Panthers vs Gold Coast Titans 7.35pm AEST at BlueBet Stadium
Panthers team: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Izack Tago 4. Paul Alamoti 5. Brian To’o 6. Brad Schneider 7. Jarome Luai 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Trent Toelau 15. Lindsay Smith 16. Liam Henry 17. Luke Garner 18. Matt Eisenhuth 19. Mavrik Geyer 20. Casey McLean 21. Daine Laurie 22. Luke Sommerton
Players cut:
Early Mail: Scott Sorensen is set to return from a hamstring injury in the back row.
Titans team: 1. Keano Kini 2. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 3. Brian Kelly 4. Beau Fermor 5. Jojo Fifita 6. Jayden Campbell 7. Kieran Foran 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Sam Verrills 10. Jaimin Jolliffe 11. Chris Randall 12. Klese Haas 13. Isaac Liu 14. Jacob Alick-Wiencke 15. Erin Clark 16. Keenan Palasia 17. Arama Hau 18. Josiah Pahulu 19. Tanah Boyd 20. Joe Stimson 21. Tony Francis 22. Jaylan De Groot
Players cut:
Early Mail: To come.
Injured Walker still worth $1.5 million | 01:35
SUNDAY
Manly Sea Eagles vs Cronulla Sharks 2pm AEST at 4 Pines Park
Sea Eagles team: 1. Tolutau Koula 2. Clayton Faulalo 3. Tommy Talau 4. Reuben Garrick 5. Lehi Hopoate 6. Luke Brooks 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Matthew Lodge 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Karl Lawton 13. Jake Trbojevic 14. Ben Trbojevic 15. Josh Aloiai 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Nathan Brown 18. Toafofoa Sipley 19. Jamie Humphreys 20. Gordon Chan Kum Tong 21. Jaxson Paulo 22. Caleb Navale
Players cut:
Early Mail: To come.
Sharks team: 1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Kayal Iro 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Toby Rudolf 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Oregon Kaufusi 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes 14. Daniel Atkinson 15. Jack Williams 16. Royce Hunt 17. Thomas Hazelton 18. Braden Hamlin-Uele 19. Siosifa Talakai 20. Jayden Berrell 21. Tuku Hau Tapuha 22. Samuel Stonestreet
Players cut:
Early Mail: Ronaldo Mulitalo looks set to return from a knee injury on the wing. Siosifa Talakai is listed among the reserves as he looks to return from a calf injury and could be a late inclusion.
Newcastle Knights vs Dolphins, 4.05pm AEST at McDonald Jones Stadium
Knights team: 1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Fletcher Sharpe 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Jack Cogger 7. Phoenix Crossland 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Leo Thompson 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Dylan Lucas 13. Adam Elliott 14. Tyson Gamble 15. Mathew Croker 16. Jack Hetherington 17. Brodie Jones 18. Thomas Cant 19. Will Pryce 20. Jackson Hastings 21. Sebastian Su’a 22. Kai Pearce-Paul
Players cut:
Early Mail: Tyson Frizell is set to return from concussion protocols in the back row, while bench utility Tyson Gamble is expected to return from a hand injury on the bench.
Dolphins team: 1. Trai Fuller 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Jack Bostock 6. Jake Averillo 7. Sean O’Sullivan 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Max Plath 10. Tevita Pangai Junior 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Connelly Lemuelu 13. Kenny Bromwich 14. Jeremy Marshall-King 15. Ray Stone 16. Mark Nicholls 17. Kodi Nikorima 18. Lachlan Hubner 19. Isaiya Katoa 20. Oryn Keeley 21. Kurt Donoghoe 22. Tesi Niu
Players cut:
Early Mail: Felise Kaufusi will start in the back row after successfully having his careless high tackle charge downgraded at the judiciary. Prop Jesse Bromwich and bench utility Kodi Nikorima are set to return from concussion protocols.
Bye: New Zealand Warriors
Source Agencies